AAC EXTENDS ITS APPRECIATION TO U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CORRECTIONS MADE TO ITS REPORT

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
April 27 2007

On behalf of Azerbaijani-American community of California, the AAC
thanks the U.S. State Department for the correction made to the 2006
Report on Human Rights Practices in Armenia.

The earlier change in the wording of the report, omitting the fact
of Armenia’s continuing occupation of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
region of Azerbaijan, also caused concern among Azerbaijani-Americans.

AAC would like to highlight that the indication of Nagorno-Karabakh
as the territory of Azerbaijan occupied by the Armenian forces is
the reflection of reality according to international legal norms.

Understanding of these legal norms will only help both sides of the
conflict, currently engaged in the process of mediated negotiations
for a peaceful settlement. Achieving consensus within the framework
of international law also requires an impartial stance of mediating
parties, and the correction introduced by the U.S. State Department
only reinforces the position of the United States as an impartial
co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group.

AAC appreciates the sincere efforts made by the U.S. State Department
in addressing these concerns and calls for further deepening of the
beneficial strategic partnership between the United States and the
Republic of Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress